Improvement in hemp-brakes



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. M. NEWELL.

Hemp and Flax Brake. v No. 20,890. Patented July 13, 1858.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. M. NEWELL.

Hemp and Flax Brake.

Patented July 13, I858.

PATENT rricht GEO. M. NEW'ELL, OF LEXINGTON, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN HEMP-BRAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 20690, dated July 13, 185R.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. NEWELL,

. of Lexington, in the county of La Fayette and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Breaking and Cleaning Hemp and Flax; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a hemp-machine constructed after my invention. 'Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the same. Fig. 3

is a plan or top View of the same.

Similar letters of reference in each of the several figures indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to an improvement in that character of machine which employs for breaking the hemp or flax a horizontal reciprocatin g frame armed with flat swords or slats which operate in combination with stationary swords or slats arranged below a hopper.

The nature of my invention consists in giving the slats of the pivoted frame a curvedform, which is concentric with-the axis on which the frame in which they are hung reciprocates, and having said slats or swords move in curved slots of stationary pillars as the frame reciprocates. By this feature of my invention the hemp will be thoroughly broken, and at thesame time, by reason of the curved form of the slats and their positive movement in the path of a vertical circle, it will be automatically drawn from the hopper and fed continuously down-through the throat of the machine without the aid of feed-rollers; and,besides this,the machine will remain more firm and steady, as the tendency of the circular movement of the swords or slats is to hold the frame to the ground, and the frame will not be so much jarred and injured by the concussion of the reciprocating swords with the stationary swords as when the swords or slats work horizontally, owing to the reciprocating curved slats or swords gliding readily over the stationary curved slats.

My invention consists, second, in the arrangement, in the manner hereinafter specified, below the breaking swords or slats of two sets of stationary beaters or whippingrods, and two sets of reciprocating beaters or rods, the latter being attached to pivoted rocking arms provided with curved slots, so that they shall reciprocate in the path of avertical circle and operate in combination with the stationary rods. By this arrangement the feeding down of the hemp automatically through the throat is continued, and the hemp is beaten in such a manner that all shives or i I herds which adhere to it after passing by the swords will be removed, and thus is insured a perfect breaking and cleansing of the hemp before it escapes from the machine.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to de scribe its construction and operation.

A represents the frame, mounted on wheels B B B B, so as to be propelled from place to place with ease and facility.

GO represent two semicircular pillars or supports placed on opposite sides of the frame, as shown. Each of these supports is provided with two semicircular slots, at a.

D D D D D D are three sets of stationary curved slats or swords, one set being on one side of the throat of the hopper E and the other set on the opposite side of the same, at

equal distances apart, the slats of each set v being placed one above the other in the same perpendicular line, and extending from one of the pillars or supports 0 to the other, ina manner to unite and brace thesame.

E E E E represent two sets of circularlyreciprocating curved swords or slats arranged in the spaces existing between the stationary swords or slats, the set E Ebeing between those D D D, and the set E E between those D D D, as shown, the ends of each set extending through the semicircular slots a a in the pillars or supports, and attaching to rock ing arms I) b of short rock-shafts F, as shown, By thus arranging the swords or slats a vertical passage the same width as that of the throat of the hopper exists between them for the hemp or flax to pass down through, in the manner illustrated in red.

G G G G G G represent two sets of stationary rods or beaters arranged below the sets of stationary swords, and H H represent two sets of reciprocating rods or beaters arranged between the stationary rods or beaters. The reciprocating rods or beaters extend entirely across the machine and attach to rock 2 caste ing arms I I of short rock-shafts J, and the ends of the stationary rods or heaters pass through curved slots d (Z of the rocking arms and attach to the pillars or supports 0 G, as shown. The rods G and G are arranged in such relation to the swords D D that the passage of the hemp down between them is not obstructed. The vibrating motion to the swords and the heaters is transmitted from the driving-shaft by means of pitmen K K, L L, and belts, M N. The pitmen K K have 'a much longer movement than those L L, in

order that the reciprocating rods or heaters shall have a greater number of movements than the swords, this being necessary to insure aperfect whipping-out and removal from the hemp of all shives or herds which may adherethereto after being operated upon by the swords.

From the foregoing description it will be seen, if the hemp is placed into the hopper and introduced through the throat to the swords and the machine is set in motion, that the reciprocating swords will operate upon it in their back and forward motion in a manner to thoroughly break it, and at the same time, by reason of their curved form, feed it downward continuously between the heaters, by which, in its descent, it is whipped vigorously and deprived of all shives or herds which may not have been removed by the slats or swords. Besides the advantage of having the machine self-feeding, it is very essential to have the swords work in a circle, because the machine will remain more firm and steady, and not he jarred and injured so mueh by the concussion of the reciprocating and stationary swords as when the swords or slats work horizontally.

I am aware that straight slats in a horizontally-reciprocating frame, in combination withsimilar stationary slats, have been used pre vious to the date of my invention; also, that a reciprocating whipper has been used, in combination with a reciprocating gate and other reciprocating devices, for breaking hemp. Such devices and combination of devices, therefore, I do not clainrbroadly; but

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Giving the slats of the pivoted frame a curved form which is concentric with the axis on which the frame in which they are hung reciprocates, and arranging said slats or swords so as to move in curved slots of stationary pillars as the frame reciprocates, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The arrangement, in the manner herein specified, below the breaking swords or slats, of two sets of stationary heaters or whippingrods and two sets of reciprocating heaters or rods, the latter being attached to pivoted rocking arms provided with curved slots, sothat they shall reciprocate in the path of a vertical circle and operate in combination with the stationary rods, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

' GEO. M. NE'WELL.

Vitnesses:

G. YORKE Arr LEE, J. XV. GRARY. 

